Firearm bore cleaning jag

ABSTRACT

A firearm bore cleaning jag includes an elongated body defining an axis, with a first set of multiple fins and a second set of multiple fins positioned at first and second positions, respectively along the length of the body. Each of the fins has two opposed surfaces. Each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis. The opposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other. The first set of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a first direction, and the second set of multiple fins are arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite the first direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rifle bore cleaning jag that holds acleaning patch both while the jag is pushed through a firearm's barreland while it is pulled through a firearm's barrel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a firearm is fired, gunpowder residue, dirt, and lead and copperparticles are deposited in its barrel. Failure to clean the gun barrelcan damage it and adversely affect accuracy. Firearm bore cleaning jagsare commonly used to clean gun barrels. They are secured to the end of arod for insertion into a gun barrel. A cotton (or other material)cleaning patch, which receives a solvent that removes gunpowder residuesand metal deposits, is pierced in the center or near the edge andwrapped around the jag. The rod is then used to push the jag and itssurrounding cleaning patch through the gun barrel's bore.

A wide variety of cleaning jags have been developed for cleaningfirearms. However, most are designed so that the cleaning patch dropsfrom the jag when it exits the firearm's barrel after being pushedthrough. A bare cleaning jag then has to be pulled back through the gunbarrel. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that the muzzle crown isnot damaged by the exposed barbs of the jag as it is being drawn backinto the gun barrel past the muzzle crown. Although a fresh patch couldbe applied to the jag prior to drawing it back into the gun barrel,prior art jags are not designed to hold a patch while the jag is beingpulled. The patch either falls off of the jag as the jag reenters thebore, or the patch bunches together and becomes lodged in the bore.Therefore, there is a need for a firearm bore cleaning jag that holds acleaning patch both while the jag is pushed through a firearm barrel andwhile it is pulled through a firearm barrel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved firearm bore cleaning jag,and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of theprior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, whichwill be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide animproved firearm bore cleaning jag that has all the advantages of theprior art mentioned above.

To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present inventionessentially comprises an elongated body defining an axis, with a firstset of multiple fins and a second set of multiple fins positioned atfirst and second positions, respectively along the length of the body.Each of the fins has two opposed surfaces. Each of the opposed surfaceshas an angle characteristic measured with respect to the axis. Theopposed surfaces of each fin have different angle characteristics, suchthat one of the opposed surfaces is less acute than the other. The firstset of multiple fins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facingin a first direction, and the second set of multiple fins are arrangedwith their less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite thefirst direction. There are, of course, additional features of theinvention that will be described hereinafter and which will form thesubject matter of the claims attached.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the current embodiment of the firearm borecleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the current embodiment of the firearm borecleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the current embodiment of the firearm borecleaning jag constructed in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention and identifies locations A-W referenced in Table 1.

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout thevarious figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of the firearm bore cleaning jag of the presentinvention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

FIG. 1 illustrates improved firearm bore cleaning jag of the presentinvention. More particularly, the jag 10 is a straight cylindrical bodyformed of a monolithic unitary block of material. In the preferredembodiment, it is formed as a brass turning from a body 12, with theturned body including all the features that run the entire length of thebody. In the description, its form may be described in terms of discretepieces in order to explain the structure more clearly. Brass is usedbecause it is a soft metal that will not mar the interior of the gunbarrel or any rifling that may be present. Other soft metals or plasticare also suitable.

The jag 10 is manufactured in a variety of sizes to fit differentcaliber gun barrels, as are cleaning patches. In the description,dimensions are given for a jag that fits a .22 caliber rifle. Dimensionsfor other embodiments of the jag for use with other rifle calibers aregiven in Table 1. The locations referenced by the letters A-W in Table 1are depicted in FIG. 3.

TABLE 1 Application A B C D E F G H I J 17 Caliber 1.840 0.328 0.2780.069 0.203 0.075 0.203 0.040 0.204 0.075 20 Caliber 1.840 0.330 0.2480.085 0.205 0.075 0.205 0.045 0.205 0.075 22 Caliber 2.325 0.299 0.2780.154 0.240 0.185 0.240 0.097 0.240 0.185 6 mm/24 Caliber 2.325 0.2990.279 0.258 0.240 0.120 0.240 0.100 0.240 0.120 25/26/6.5 mm Calibers2.325 0.297 0.259 0.201 0.240 0.150 0.240 0.108 0.240 0.150 27/28/7 mmCalibers 2.800 0.297 0.303 0.359 0.288 0.180 0.288 0.112 0.288 0.18030/32/8 mm Calibers 2.800 0.299 0.301 0.300 0.288 0.170 0.288 0.0990.288 0.170 33/35/9.3 mm Calibers 2.800 0.299 0.275 0.298 0.288 0.1800.288 0.100 0.288 0.180 37/38/40 Calibers 2.800 0.298 0.263 0.139 0.3440.149 0.344 0.107 0.344 0.149 44/45 Calibers 2.744 0.299 0.232 NA 0.3370.193 0.337 0.154 0.337 0.193 50 Caliber 3.000 0.299 0.443 NA 0.3370.205 0.337 0.156 0.337 0.205 Application K L M N O P Q R S 17 Caliber0.204 0.161 0.164 150° 0.051 0.133 0.091 60° 0.015 20 Caliber 0.2050.161 0.195 150° 0.051 0.165 0.123 60° 0.015 22 Caliber 0.239 0.1670.205 150° 0.060 0.182 0.130 60° 0.015 6 mm/24 Caliber 0.239 0.190 0.205150° 0.060 0.200 0.148 60° 0.015 25/26/6.5 mm Calibers 0.240 0.200 0.205150° 0.060 0.213 0.161 60° 0.015 27/28/7 mm Calibers 0.288 0.217 0.258150° 0.072 0.228 0.162 60° 0.015 30/32/8 mm Calibers 0.288 0.309 0.258150° 0.072 0.258 0.192 60° 0.015 33/35/9.3 mm Calibers 0.288 0.316 0.258150° 0.072 0.288 0.222 60° 0.015 37/38/40 Calibers 0.344 0.319 0.258150° 0.086 0.315 0.235 60° 0.015 44/45 Calibers 0.337 0.327 0.253 NA0.084 0.369 0.289 60° 0.015 50 Caliber 0.337 0.344 0.253 NA 0.084 0.4490.369 60° 0.015 Application T U V W Caliber Thread 17 Caliber R .0310.050 30° NA 0.174 5 × 40 20 Caliber R .031 0.062 30° NA .198 thru .2045 × 40 22 Caliber  R .0625 0.062 30° NA 0.224 8 × 32 6 mm/24 Caliber  R.0625 0.062 30° NA 0.243 8 × 32 25/26/6.5 mm Calibers  R .0625 0.062 30°NA .257 thru .264 8 × 32 27/28/7 mm Calibers  R .0625 0.080 30° NA .277thru .284 8 × 32 30/32/8 mm Calibers  R .0625 0.080 30° NA .308 thru.325 8 × 32 33/35/9.3 mm Calibers R .125 0.080 30° NA .338 thru .366 8 ×32 37/38/40 Calibers R .125 0.080 30° NA .375 thru .416 8 × 32 44/45Calibers R .125 0.080 30° 150° .429 thru .458 8 × 32 50 Caliber R .1250.080 30° 150° .500 and larger 8 × 32

The jag 10 has a number of features along its length, which defines abody axis 50. The rear 40 of the body 12 consists of a threaded shank 42that is designed to be screwed into the end of a cleaning rod. The jaghas an overall length of 2.325 inches, and the shank has 8×32 malethreads 44 and is 0.299 inches long in the illustrated embodiment.Except for the threads, all of the features of the jag are surfaces ofrevolution defined by the body axis.

A base portion 52 of the body 12 immediately in front of the shank 42terminates in a taper portion 14 at its front. The base portion 52 is0.278 inches in length and has a base diameter of 0.205 inches in theillustrated embodiment. The taper portion 14 tapers at an angle of 150°with respect to the body axis 50 to a neck diameter of 0.130 inches.

Forward of the taper portion 14, a pattern of alternating reduceddiameter neck portions (60, 62, 64, and 66) and fin groups (32, 34, 54,and 56) proceeds toward the tip 46 of the body 12. The fin groups arearranged in pairs of adjacent fin groups (36 and 58) separated by a neckportion 64 of the body, which is 0.097 inches long and 0.130 inches indiameter. The first fin group pair 58 is separated from the front mostend of the taper portion 14 by the neck portion 60 of the body, which is0.154 inches long and 0.130 inches in diameter. There are two pairs offin groups in the illustrated embodiment, although in alternativeembodiments, there may be one pair, or more than two pairs, or groups offins not arranged in pairs facing each other.

Each fin group pair includes a rear facing fin group (32 and 54) and afront facing fin group (34 and 56). The rear facing fin groups and thefront facing fin groups in each fin group pair are separated from oneanother by neck portions of the body 62 and 66 that are 0.185 incheslong and 0.130 inches in diameter. Each of the fin groups has a lengthalong the axis of 0.240 inches. In the illustrated embodiment, each ofthe rear facing fin groups includes four rear facing fins 16, and eachof the front facing fin groups includes four front facing fins 30.However, any suitable quantity of fins may be employed.

FIG. 2 illustrates improved firearm bore cleaning jag of the presentinvention. More particularly, all of the fins 16 and 30 are conicsections characterized by a surface of revolution defined by the bodyaxis. The rear facing fins 16 have a tapered rear surface 18 and aperpendicular front surface 20. The front facing fins 30 have aperpendicular rear surface 26 and a tapered front surface 28. The rearfacing fins 16 and the front facing fins 30 are mirror images of oneanother. Because each rear facing fin group is paired with a frontfacing fin group, the fin groups can be described as being geometricallyopposed to another. Each of the fins has a total width of 0.060 inches.The tapered surfaces are tapered at a 30° angle with respect to the bodyaxis and give the fins an outer diameter ranging from a minor diameter Bof 0.130 inches to a major diameter A of 0.2054 inches.

All of the fins have a rim 24 that connects their front facing surfacesto their rear facing surfaces. The junctures of the perpendicularsurfaces and the rims creates sharp corner edges 68. Each of the rims isa cylindrical surface about 0.015 inches wide and 0.182 inches indiameter in the illustrated embodiment. However, the rims could be aknife edge with a zero width, which may be suitable for someapplications. Their width may range up to 0.042 inches for otherapplications. When the rims have a width, the tapered surfaces aretapered at an obtuse angle to the rim in the current embodiment. Theperpendicular surfaces could also be an acute taper that creates an evensharper edge and a conically dished or concave surface. Theperpendicular surfaces could also be provided with an obtuse angle thatis within 25° of perpendicular, and significantly less obtuse than thetapered surface, preferably with an angle difference between 20° and80°, with the 60° illustrated difference being preferred.

The body 12 terminates at its front 38 in a tip 46. The tip 46 has aradiused base 48 that at its widest point has a diameter equal to theminor diameter B of the adjacent fin in the illustrated embodiment. Theradiused base has a radius (taken in a plane intersecting the axis) of0.062 inches. However, this may range from 0.0 to 0.125 inches, and ispreferably at least 0.5 to 4 times the radius of the tip along itscylindrical portion. The tip is 0.167 inches long and has a tip diameterC of 0.0625 inches. The radiused base is at least 1½ to 2½ times widerthan the tip diameter C at its widest point because this is believed toprovide the best protection from breakage of the tip. The tip tapers toa point at its front 38 at a 30° angle with respect to the body axis.However, the angle of tip taper with respect to the body axis may rangefrom 20° to 45°.

The tip is used to spear a patch prior to wrapping the patch around thejag. It is believed to be preferable to spear the patch in a corner oran edge in the case of a round patch rather than the middle because thisenables the patch to be wrapped completely around the jag. Thiseliminates the possibility of an uncovered portion of the jag damagingthe gun barrel. The dimensions and angles of the fins are believed toencourage a portion of the patch to enter between the fins and becomegripped by a barbed effect created by the sharp corner edges at theintersection of the perpendicular surfaces and the rims of the fins. Thetapered surfaces are believed to invite portions of the patch to enterbetween the fins, and the perpendicular surfaces are believed to grabthe patch.

Having both rear facing fins and front facing fins permits the user toboth pull and push a patch attached to the jag in a gun barrel withoutrisking the patch becoming detached from the jag. It is believed this isaccomplished by arranging the rear facing fin groups and front facingfin groups in fin group pairs. The pairs are spaced apart so there is arear facing group at both ends of the jag and a front facing group atboth ends of the jag, the groups of each type being spaced apartsignificantly with a group of the other type intervening. This isbelieved to enable pushing and pulling to occur simultaneously at boththe front and rear ends of a patch, which prevents the patch frombecoming dislodged from the jag regardless of the jag's direction ofmovement.

While current embodiments of the firearm bore cleaning jag have beendescribed in detail, it should be apparent that modifications andvariations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above descriptionthen, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationshipsfor the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly anduse, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art,and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawingsand described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by thepresent invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1. A firearm bore cleaning jag comprising: an elongated body defining anaxis; a first set of multiple fins at a first position along the lengthof the body; a second set of multiple fins at a second position alongthe length of the body; wherein each fin has two opposed surfaces;wherein each of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristicmeasured with respect to the axis; wherein the opposed surfaces of eachfin have different angle characteristics, such that one of the opposedsurfaces is less acute than the other; wherein the first set of multiplefins is arranged with their less acute surfaces facing in a firstdirection; and wherein the second set of multiple fins is arranged withtheir less acute surfaces facing in a second direction opposite thefirst direction.
 2. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein one of theopposed surfaces of each fin is perpendicular to the body axis.
 3. Thecleaning jag of claim 1, further comprising two first sets of multiplefins and two second sets of multiple fins.
 4. The cleaning jag of claim3, further comprising: wherein the two first sets of multiple fins havean intervening second set of multiple fins; and wherein the two secondsets of multiple fins have an intervening first set of multiple fins. 5.The cleaning jag of claim 1, further comprising: at least two first setsof multiple fins and at least two second sets of multiple fins; whereinthe first sets of multiple fins alternate with the second sets ofmultiple fins along the length of the body.
 6. The cleaning jag of claim1, wherein the difference between the angle characteristic of the lessacute opposed surface and the angle characteristic of the more acuteopposed surface is always positive.
 7. The cleaning jag of claim 1,wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by atleast 20°.
 8. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the anglecharacteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by an amount in the rangeof 20° to 90°.
 9. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein the opposedsurfaces of each fin meet to define a rim having a width.
 10. Thecleaning jag of claim 9, wherein the rim width ranges from 0 inches to0.042 inches.
 11. The cleaning jag of claim 1, wherein each fin is asurface of revolution defined by the axis.
 12. The cleaning jag of claim11, wherein the first set of multiple fins is separated from the secondset of multiple fins by a neck portion of the body having a diameterthat is less than the diameter of a fin.
 13. The cleaning jag of claim1, further comprising a connector attached to the body, wherein theconnector is adapted for connection to a cleaning rod.
 14. A firearmbore cleaning jag comprising: an elongated body defining an axis; afirst set of multiple fins at a first position along the length of thebody; a second set of multiple fins at a second position along thelength of the body; wherein each fin has two opposed surfaces; whereineach of the opposed surfaces has an angle characteristic measured withrespect to the axis; and wherein the opposed surfaces of each fin havedifferent angle characteristics, such that one of the opposed surfacesis less acute than the other.
 15. The cleaning jag of claim 14, furthercomprising a connector attached to the body, wherein the connector isadapted for connection to a cleaning rod.
 16. The cleaning jag of claim14, wherein the difference between the angle characteristic of the lessacute opposed surface and the angle characteristic of the more acuteopposed surface is always positive.
 17. The cleaning jag of claim 14,wherein the angle characteristics of the opposed surfaces differ by atleast 20°.
 18. The cleaning jag of claim 14, wherein the anglecharacteristics of the opposed surfaces range from 20° to 90°.